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Needles, CA
City in San Bernardino County, California.
Population
4,872
Land area
30.6sq mi
People per sq mi
159
ZIP codes
0
Needles and its ZIP codes
Needles at a glance
- Needles is 37% less dense than California as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $38,243 a year, 61% less than the California figure of $99,122.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $157,200 (79% below California) and median rent is $745 a month.
Local data for Needles, CA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Needles, CA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$38,243
Poverty rate
29.7%
Median home value
$157,200
Median rent
$745/mo
Homeownership
52.1%
Bachelor's or higher
10.2%
Median age
49.5
Average commute
18.9 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Mexican Americans (1,420), German Americans (568), Irish Americans (379).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for San Bernardino County. PPP loans are for Needles.
Unemployment rate
5.7%
Aug 2026, -0.3 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$63,749
848,961 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,991
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$11.56B
FY 2026, $5,298 per person
How people get to work
Needles, CA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone79.3%
- Carpooled13.1%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked1.5%
- Bicycle0.0%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.3%
- Worked from home5.9%
Average one-way commute: 18.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Needles, CA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very High
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
3,317
Countywide, mostly flash flood
Flood insurance policies
1,919
0.3% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
111° / 46°F
4.3 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Needles, CA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.6%
U.S. 33.3% +5.3 pts
Diabetes
17.3%
U.S. 12.1% +5.2 pts
Smoking
21.8%
U.S. 12.8% +9.0 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
12.4%
U.S. 11.1% +1.3 pts
Cities near Needles
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Village, AZCensus-designated place | 2.1 mi | 1.6 |
| Mohave Valley, AZCensus-designated place | 5 mi | 14 |
| Willow Valley, AZCensus-designated place | 6.7 mi | 4.9 |
| Mojave Ranch Estates, AZCensus-designated place | 7.8 mi | 0.7 |
| Golden Shores, AZCensus-designated place | 8.8 mi | 8.1 |
| Mesquite Creek, AZCensus-designated place | 8.8 mi | 1 |
| Topock, AZCensus-designated place | 11 mi | 0.3 |
| Fort Mohave, AZCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 16.7 |
| Oatman, AZCensus-designated place | 19 mi | 0.2 |
| Bullhead City, AZCity | 20 mi | 59.4 |
| Laughlin, NVCensus-designated place | 20 mi | 16.3 |
| Crystal Beach, AZCensus-designated place | 22 mi | 0.3 |
| Desert Hills, AZCensus-designated place | 24 mi | 4.3 |
| Yucca, AZCensus-designated place | 27 mi | 2.2 |
| Katherine, AZCensus-designated place | 27 mi | 3.8 |
| Lake Havasu City, AZCity | 29 mi | 46.3 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Needles, CA in?
- Needles is in San Bernardino County, California.
- What is the population of Needles, CA?
- About 4,872 people live in Needles, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Needles?
- Nearby places include Arizona Village, AZ (2.1 mi), Mohave Valley, AZ (5 mi), Willow Valley, AZ (6.7 mi), Mojave Ranch Estates, AZ (7.8 mi), Golden Shores, AZ (8.8 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023